New York City

LETS BEAT THESE METS!!!!!!!!

GO DODGERS!

Is Grady crazy, putting Hillenbrand at third!! why isn't Martinez in there? Just playing!!

Lineup looks great to me.

Awesome line up. I know we're all thinking the same thing with this line up. Should I say it? No, I'll bite my tongue. Ah, who am I kidding someone has to say it...... I love Nintendo Baseball!!!

I would thank Grady for this, but I suspect Gonzo will start a game during this series (which is ridiculous).

great post again Josh..glad to see you're responding to the comments about you.

I don't think it's fair for you to get "bashed" just because some of the posters on this blog don't agree with you. Instead of looking at the totality of the circumstances and all the facts (including the role a gm and manager has), they want to tailor the facts/stats/data to their liking to prove their "point", which ultimately ends up in people being called "idiots" among other things without pondering what goes on behind closed doors.

Thanks again for this blog, and i hope more people will st

THANK YOU GRADY! awesome lineup!

stay around despite the atmosphere that this blog takes sometimes*

Also, wouldnt you rather have Wells pitching then Tomko?

You're right Josh, I'm happy with the lineup.

As fans, we don't have to be pulling together with management like you do, so I understand your public and private opinions could be different and I respect that.

I guess we need to make sure we don't "shoot the messenger", heh?

i hope this is the lineup for the rest of the season...

when i look at this lineup it really looks great...

but i just can't help but to imagine Loney hitting 3rd, Kemp 4th and Ethier 5th...

i can't w8 to see that 3,4,5 order... i know it'll come if we don't get a power bat next year...

I just want to say that I do respect Josh's handling of his position and his own integrity, even while I may have given up on the value of the managers that he represents.
In the meantime, it seems as good a lineup as we can muster these days, so let's go all out DODGERS and BEAT THE METS.

It is nice to see a great lineup this time go into Shea to hopefully sweep the Mets! GO DODGERS!!

http://mikesciosciastragicillness.com/

Great lineup tonight. Just what most of us wanted and its a good thing because Oliver Perez is good. I hate the mets lets get a win tonight Blue.

Josh,
Your daily postings are much appreciated and, at least from this fan, do not go overlooked. I agree with the lineup for today and hopefully it produces a positive result. Thanks again for keeping us informed. Go Blue!

Thank you Josh.

Thank you Grady. You remind me of Walter johnson.

Like I said before I am encouraged to find that Boomer's last win was against the Mets when he won 5 -1 on 7/16.

I miss u Liz...

Diehard Josh was talking directly to you when he said, " And while I'm saddened to know that some of you have lost respect in me because I defend the team's decisions, you're certainly entitled to that. I think it's also important to know that just because I try to explain their decisions and I defend Grady, Ned and everyone else here doesn't mean that as a fan, I agree with every single thing that we do every single day."

I thnk Gonzo really needs to fall on his sword and take one for the team if he really wants the team to win and take pressure off of Grady to make him "happy" as Crasnick's column suggested.

Hey Roberto, what was the proposed trade to get Blanton from Oakland? Do you know?

Fantastic lineup. It must be hard for LaRoche to wait out this injury. I salivate at the possibility of LaRoche in this lineup.

Scott if Gonzo was a true team player he would go into Gradys office and tell Grady and Ned that he isn't able to contribute anymore and he is ready to take on a smaller role to allow the younger players to play and give the team a better chance to win. Thats what a true team player past his prime would do.

I was thinking if Grady were to get fired I think the best possible replacement for him would be Dave Duncan pitching coach from St. Louis. Duncan is a former major league catcher who has had experience working with some of the best players and some of the best managers in the bigs. He has had success beyond belief as a pitching coach and there is no question he knows how to manage. He would be the perfect replacement if management decides to cut ties with Grady.

Nice grounded read Josh.

Thank you for your work, Josh. Rest assured you are greatly appreciated.

I love this line up. It is a beautiful thing seeing the kids getting the start against those dirty Mets. I hope they all keep their focus and come out strong to set the tone for the series. I also like the arrangement of the line up. For the most part, it's lefty, righty, lefty, righty. Nice.

WE NEED THIS WIN TODAY. Badly.

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I HATE NEW YORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Ethier & Kemp in there today is a very good thing, Let's beat the Mets!

swood: right on about Gonzo

Hey, Is there anyone here who doesn't like the lineup and actually wants Gonzo in there?

(Please don't respond Ned)

I Love L.A.!!! Now that's a lineup!! Grady, if you keep this up we might start jumping on your wagon....Let's get a sweep, with this lineup all 3 days.

What do you guys think of Dave Duncan as a manager? Do you think he would be better then Grady?

Praise Jesus!

A Great Lineup!

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is the same lineup that got us 15 runs two days ago in Philly. Lets get another 15 tonight in the apple!!!!! Penny for cy young!!!!!

swood, anybody would be better than Grady. That being said, yes i would like Dave Duncan as a manager. Maybe he can bring his sons Chris and Shelley with him. I saw those guys play high school and college ball out here in Tucson and they can hit. I'm sure by now Duncan has alot of Tony LaRussa in him, and he does handle all pitching decisions in St. Louis. Bring on Dave...

the good part is that this is our best lineup. The bad part is that its rarely used.

Grady Little has inherited good teams. Especially the team in Boston but once he left they won it all. Coincidence?

Great Post Josh and thanks for the explanation regarding Budget differential. That was me who brought that up. It helps in understanding the thought process.

I totally agree that Wells is a low risk/high reward pick up and if it dosen't work out, so be it, no sweat. If Tomko and Hendu were .500 pitchers in the games they started this year we would be in the playoffs right now.

I to like this line up and I certainly respect the job you do. Facts are facts, things have gone a little south recently but there is still time. A few bad choices were made in the offseason and so be it, we move on.

I do understand that this is not fantasy baseball. Committments were made to players regarding playing time I am sure or Gonzo would not see the field over Ethier based on performance alone right now. The numbers are just to good/bad to think otherwise..but that's ok too, they are all human beings and keeping people happy in a team enviornment is important. To those who say Gonzo should man up or whatever, I disagree..he has not said one bad thing about anyone. He has not played everyday. I don't know I like the guy and he had a great first half. If he can regain that stroke it will be helpful. You never know who might struggle later. Maybe Either, maybe Pierre or maybe Loney.

Josh you do a great job and it's much appreciated. I want to be here and I don't want to turn people off from being here. I took Pupys and Casino's post to heart as much as possible and want to be positive. I am in other aspects of my life, so why not with the Dodgers.

Im thinking about going to another game this year but i think my money will be better spent on my Nintendo.

well said jungar.

thank you josh. I know sometimes its hard to see but we all do appreciate the time you take out of your busy day for this blog.

Thanks for the post, Josh - very well said. I think we all want the same thing, which is for the Dodgers to win, obviously, and make the World Series. So at least we have that as common ground.

Oh, and whatever one thinks of David Wells signing, I agree it's low risk - and, hey, we get to watch someone other than Tomko out there. He would've been creamed on Sunday. I will be stoked if they took 2 out of 3 this weekend. I also hope Andy LaRoche comes back soon and joins the team 9/1. Then I'd like this line-up even more! ;-) Cheers.

Using winning percentage to evaluate Grady is bull. This is his FOURTH year managing in the major leagues. Small sample size people. Go tell Cox, LaRussa, or real accomplished manager that Grady is better because he has a higher winning percentage. The fact is that Grady has to be evaluated by how he uses his talent and his in game decision making, which has been controversial at best.

Exit- When Grady inherited that Boston team they were a mess! A lot of talent, a lot of ego, a lot of losing. Grady turned them around and got them on the right track. I don't think it's very fair to call their winning the world series after Grady a coincidence when they hadn't won it since 1918!!

Nice Radiohead reference in your name though. ;)

I just want to say first off, that if that lineup isn't perfect it's pretty close to it. I also would like to say that this will be the first time I've gone to a MLB game carrying the starting line up with me. Well at least my team's. WELL ANOTHER BIG GAME GO DODGERS!!!!!

Wow imagine that lineup in 08 with A-rod instead of Shea. Now that would be awesome.

Lineup looks good, but it leads to the question--anyone know Nomar's timeframe? What about LaRoche. Hillenbrand is fine as a fill-in (you can argue about Betemit, but that was done), but I'd rather have Nomar back or Andy filling in.

Excellent post Josh, and we should all make a point not to bash Josh. He does his job and does it well. I'm sure he'll accept criticism, but good or bad he's not making out the line-up, and has to be very careful about any personal opinions--whether he agress or not.

scott--just a comment about local reporters. Your're (sort of) right that they have their own biases, including they are far less inclined to tick players/managers off (except Simers, of cours). But Rosenthal has incentives to go the other way too (including to keep selling the game, which is a big Fox product, interesting in places that don't have a pennant race going on). Ultimately, there are a lot of biases going into this, so maybe Rosenthal's right, but maybe not. We'll see if it gets picked up on.

Jspelk- I agree with much of what you say. I also mostly agree with this here. A small sample isn't all that telling. Buuuut, in Grady's defense- How has Cox faired in the World Series? Even beyond that, how has he faired in the playoffs?! A friend of mine is a huge Braves fan and the only thing that I'm able to throw back in his face is "yeah, dude whatever. I hope you enjoyed your 1 championship in 14 straight division titles!" I'd be pissed if we made it each and every year but to no avial.

jungar,

Gonzo had problems with playing time in AZ last year and that is one reason he is not there. He gave the Dodgers an ok first half with a lot of meaningless stats for the most part when games were already won or lost. He was never very good in the field and we shouldn't worry about keeping someone happy who #1 didn't care for LA except for the fact that we were the only ones who would pay him what he wanted and promise him he's start and #2 he's going to be gone after this season so good riddance.

How can it not be about winning?

Thanks Josh!
A lot of us appreciate your efforts here on the blog.

Probably time to point out the good job Lttle and Colletti are doing. If we were to replace Little at all, I'd go for Walt Alston, but I don't think he is available. Then again, he might be to low key too.

Does anyone here like Wilco?

I am seeing them live on monday and am a big fan. I have been a fan for awhile but for whatever reasons I have not been able to go see them..I was just wondering what to expect.

Nice, Grady goes back to the lineup that scored 15 runs. Keep it this way till the end of the season Grady. You MUST play the best players on the field this time of year.

well put Jungar.

great lineup with Martinez available to pinch hit or defense . We have been winning since Shea arrived at third. I would like to see Nomar back at third when he is healthy. I saw him at San Francisco on the last weekend when we clinched playoff spot last year, & was sad his body gave out. He has the Kirk Gibson Grit . we'll need it in Sept.

Joe Pierre do you think we should try to get Dave Duncan as our manager? Do you think Gonzo should go to Grady and Ned and say that he wants to sit down and give the younger guys a chance to play so we can have the best chance to win?

By the way Josh...I cant tell you how forward I look to your blog's. Your the best.

I love Wilco. I saw them at Coachella in 2005. They were pretty good. Jeff Tweedy just got out of rehab so it was a little strange at first. They really don't like playing festivals so he was in a bad mood but they were still great.

I took this pic of them.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b246/AEversW/Coachella%202005/IMG_1356.jpg

I assume you are going to see them at the Greek? I was thinking about getting tickets for that but i got Arcade Fire tickets at the Hollywood Bowl instead.

exit...no coincidence in Boston? Yeah Theo replaced his saves leader (Byun Yung Kim, 14 saves and did not even make the post season roster in '03 because the Yankees were in his head from the previous years with AZ) with Keith Folke's 40 plus saves. Not to mention the addition of Curt Schilling.

I'm not a big LaRussa fan, so I'm a little weary about Duncan. I like Kevin Kennedy who did well before and served a lot of years in the pre-FOX Dodger system. I like Girardi as well. We blew it with Scoscia so that's water under the bridge.

JUNGAR!!! YESSS!!! I LOVE WILCO!! NIIIICE.

I'm going to the Greek show too. They are amazing. I'm friends with the opener, Richard Swift. Make sure to see him too. Fantastic.

Don't bait me Scott, I am trying to place nice here!!

He should have never been signed, yes I agree.

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is one of my favorite albums ever.

Scott Kevin Kennedy is TERRIBLE. My dad knows him personally from his days in boston. His is a huge *** hole even though you can't tell on TV. He had really talented teams but made stupid decisions with the pitching staffs. He wanted to pitch Clemens on 3 days rest after he had thrown 150 pitches in his last start. Thankfully someone talked him out of it but how stupid would that decision be. Kevin Kennedy is one million times worse then Grady. If we are to make a change it should be Dave Duncan and nobody else.

* He's not his

wow Jungar, I am glad to know that I am not the only person here who is holding out on hopes of A-Rod being in Dodger Blue next year. Lineup with A-Rod next year, and imagine the speed we will have...

1. Furcal (Healthy)

2. Pierre

3. Kemp

4. Rodriguez

5. Ethier

6. Martin

7. Loney

8. Abreu

This is under the assumption that Kent is leaving. The top 6 people have a great chance at at least 20 stolen basesGive Furcal and Pierre 40 at the top of the lineup. Regardless of who the manager is next year, lets hope they can realize that potential and cut the strings lose next year. I think we can put the league on notice now, if this is the lineup next year, look out, if anyone gets on base, they're going to second (minus Loney). Lets get it going in NY and beat da' Mets.

Hey Josh:
You're doing a great job. You are right in everything you say, and the vast majority of us appreciate and respect your efforts as well as each other and the Dodgers. Keep up the good work and know that it is important and correct.

Now let's kick the **** out of those Mets!

HOLY ****!!!

did anyone see the update?!?!?!

BOMBKO GOT DFA'd!!!!!!

THERE IS A GOD!!

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is a masterpiece.

you guys read josh's update, brett tomko dfa.

exit= are you kidding me?!!! That is amazing!!!!

I like the lineup tonight. Hope the Dodgers have the same success as our rival Padre club had. I thought for a second about maybe doing a 'Larussa' thing with the lineup switching Penny, and Hillenbrand. Nope! I like the chances with this lineup. GO DODGERS!!

jungar - sorry, lol.

swood - Duncan and no one else? Pretty narrow minded don't you think?

Anyone else here besides swood's dad have a bad impression of Kennedy?

The Chin-Lung Hu era begins next week. 4 dingers in the last 10 games to go with a .350+ avg. He is a complete player.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS TOMKO DFA!!!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSS

I want to see Matt Kemp hit that freaking apple in the outfield.

IT'S TRUE. BOMKO DFA'D!!!!!!!

i just peed a little im so happy.

w0w... so far that's the greatest thing that happen for the dodgers this year...

tomko DFA

Scott do any of you know Kennedy personally? My dad was a friend of his. Now he hates Kennedy because he is a selfish jack***. Please Ned and McCourt if you are getting rid of Grady don't get Kennedy he doesn't know how to manage.

I'm leaving for the game now and I'd have to think about DUNCAN, but if da GONZ did do that it would make it easier on management.

What are we going to do with Hu, How much more time does Furcal have on his contract?

I guess this means that his option won't be getting picked up in 2008...? LOL

P.S. Please sign with San Diego! I'll forgive you for everything!

Wow thanks Max. Thanks kev...Actually I will be seeing them in San Diego (I live in San Juan Capistrano so it's not that bad). I had other commitments but would rather be at the Greek, I love that place. Last show I saw there was Beck I belive. Or Tom Petty.

Foxtrot is great. All of the albums are great cause they are so different. My favorite might be "being there" or "Summerteeth" but I think that's cause of nostialga as I bought those right when they came out and was really impressed (along with Uncle Tupleo) by the time I bough Foxtrot I knew I was gonna like it type thing.

Hu and Raffy next year, solid up the middle.

Tomko DFA'd...

C E L E B R A T E tonight common!

watch SD pick up tomko in 5...4....3....2....

dang we are acting like we just won the world series.

Well hopefully that's the last we see of Tomko in a Dodger uniform. He's had more than enough chances to prove himself, and he never came through. ADIOS!!

Wow, if we were all in a Bar and the Tomko thing was on the ticker as DFA'ed I get up out of my bar seat, stand on the bar and say...."drinks are on me boys, giddy up"

And I am not a loud person....

Josh, I would never lose respect for you. You have a job to do and people to answer to just like everybody else. What you do here is great and whether I agree with you or not (and I don't about Grady) I still enjoy your take on things. Wells can't be any worse then Tomko. I wonder why Ned didn't try and get someone like Trachsel ,he's not great , but he's younger and available.

cant we just make this a *really* great day and release grandfather hernandez?

Guys, as frustrating as Tomko was, lets remember he is a real person and even though he is a major league pitcher, he does have feelings and a lot of the guys that we support on this team also support Tomko, for no other reason that he their team mate and friend. He didnt live up to our expectations, but lets represent the class organization of the Los Angeles Dodgers in wishing him well where ever he ends up.

fliegel josh wasn't talking to you he was talking to diehard because yesterday diehard said that he had lost all respect for Josh because he stood up for Grady's lineup.

fezzik, your right, but you no what, this time is okay.

Tomko DFA, What took so long? What a waste of a roster spot. At least it's a step in the right direction.

"Being There" is great too. Have you heard their first album "A.M."? It's so country.

I saw Radiohead at the Greek last year. It's really the best place to see a concert minus the Polo Fields of Coachella.

OK exit this is a dodger blog not a music blog. Give us your thoughts on us releasing Tomko.

swood , I know , I was just speaking in general. Thanks anyway.

So youre saying we'd move Hu over to 2nd from Short? Then what about Abreu?***** this is beginning to sound like USC Football, so much potential talent, but we can only field 9 at a time.

I agree fezzik our joy over this is strictly from a baseball point of view. We all know how great Tomko, Hernandez and Gonzo are as people. It's well documented, but that doesn't win ballgames, production on the field does. So, yes I wish Tomko the best in his personal life, but from a baseball perspective, it's long overdue.

If they are high on Hu, then Abreu might be one of those prospects they can dangle out there with someone else to get some pitching for next year.

im not saying he shouldnt have been DFA'd. Just saying that we're celebrating that a guy just lost his job, and that adds to unemployment... and umemployment puts people on Welfare, and lets face it, that hurts everyone :P

Wow the Braves DFA'd Bob Wickman

Abreu has experience in the bigs, look for him to start before Hu.

He'd be an upgrade over Hernandez, no?

bob wickman, like tomko should have beend DFAed long ago. the braves could use tomko actually, the back half of their rotation, like ours, is a mess

How good is Hu defensively.?

i already posted my thoughts Swood.

i just peed a little im so happy.

Posted by: exit_music_4afilm@yahoo.com | August 24, 2007 02:31 PM

If I was a Jedi, I would cruise on my motorscooter thing down to San Diego

Towers: How long have you had this tomko?

LUKE: About two seasons.

BEN: They're for sale if you want them.

Towers: Let me see his statistics.

me: You don't need to see his statistics..

Towers: We don't need to see his statistics..

me: This is the pitcher your looking for.

Towers: This is the pitcher we're looking for.

fezzik031@yahoo.com While it's never good to see somebody out of work, I don't think you'll see Tomko in the unemployment line or welfare office any time soon. :-)

fezzik It's nothing personal. Nobody means any ill will against the man personally. I wish him well. He was given more than enough chances here. It just feels like a HUGE burden was lifted from this team as a whole. Such is life. He may find a home somewhere else. Who knows? I just hope to never see him again in a Dodger uniform.

Bye Bombko!

Wickman > Hernandez??

Hu will get a look this september and on and off next year. If he's ready he could take over for Furcal. Furcal has a better arm and has more pop but defensively Hu is probably the best we have in the organization with James Loney a close second. He's a defensive Wiz.

Wickman is better fezzik. Tomko is horrible and I'm glad he's gone. Fezzik I know you're kidding about Tomko going on welfare but still....

Hu?
Hu are u talking about?

I sure hope we all as posters here got the message, Josh.

I Like your blog postings (even the plain 'ole lineup is in itself pretty valuable service) because they open up a bit of the organization the fan doesn't get to see.

My blog isn't so inside and reflects more of the thoughts us fans have on the outside looking in. I think it is very insightful and revealing to us fans when you address some of the questioning of the moves of management that occur in the comments. Maybe coulda been done more courteously, but maybe that changes with today's posting by yourself. Will definitely be a better blog if that happens.

http://altdodgerthinking.blogspot.com/

Well, I think I can see this next year if Kent decides to call it a career.
Loney 1b

Hu 2b

Raffy ss

LaRoche 3b

Hate to see this, but maybe Nomar and Abreu for some pitching help.????

Hey Van are you posting this from the Phillipines or are you just or phillipino decent?

Luis Castillo tweaked his knee and is out of the lineup and is day to day, Gotay will fill in for tonight for them **** Mets

I guess B. Cox had enough of Wickman huh? Their pitching staff, and bullpen got beat up bad by the Reds. He was overworked. Seems he's the sacrificial lamb to me.

exit- Being There may be my favorite Wilco album. Summerteeth is incredible too. The only one I do not have is AM. I can honestly say that I have yet to be dissapointed by Tweedy and Wilco. They are an amazing band. I was at Coachella that year too. I've also seen 'em at the El Rey. I can't wait for the Greek show! Seriously, Arcade Fire put on an amazing show and your money is well spent but you should get to the Greek for Wilco and Richard Swift too! :)

nice Star Wars jungar.

Well, no one wants to see Tomko down at the LA Mission this weekend, but I really doubt he's "unemployed" since the Dodgers still owe him money for this year, right? Sounds like easy money.

* of not or

im a filipino but im already here in L.A...

just having some fun...

tomko is gone! yeah!

Im unable to find fielding stats for Hu on MiLB.com... anyone know where else to locate them?

California, LaRoche is a BIG IF if we acquire A-Rod. Just remember there will always be another LaRoche. A player of A-Rod's caliber comes along once every 20 years.

good luck Tomko. Thanks for the Dodger children's book you designed. i gave it to my little nieces.

No matter what Wells does for us, I'll always be thankful to him for helping us get rid of Tomko.

Scott- your easy money comment reminded me of the Darren Dreifort Wealth Creating System video I saw today: http://mikesciosciastragicillness.com

The way I see it LaRoche must have some value, because they have never wanted to trade him.

and the whole statement about Welfare was a joke. Im glad Tomko isnt in Dodger blue anymore, and for the moment, there is not a blatantly obvious liability in the rotatation. Lets get it going and hey, maybe Wells will throw at the Mets on Sunday and start a fight, and maybe, just maybe, it will light a little more fire under the Dodger's butts.

My biggest worry tonight is Beltran. He's been on fire, and off the hook since his return off the DL. Oh yeah! Can't forget that pest Reyes. The Mets are pretty much dead without him.